Type-writing machine.



No. 662,790. Patented Nov. 27, I900.

E. A. HOPKINS. TYPE wmnm; MACHINE.

(Application filed June 30. 1900 (N0 Model.)

3 Sheets-8heet l INVENTdR 1 No. 002,790. Patented Nov. 27, I900.

E. A. HOPKINS.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 30, 1900. (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2f.

INVENTOR AIMEE 3 No. 662,790. Patented Nov. 27, I900.

E. A. HOPKINS. TYPE wnnma IhAcH'mE.

(Application filed June so, 1900. v (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheei 3.

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EDWARD A. HOPKINS, OF NEl/V YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE ELLIOTT & HATCHBOOK TYPEWRITER GOMPANY, OF NETV YORK.

TYPE RHTING MACHINE.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,790, dated November2'7, 1900.

Application filed June 30, 1900.

T 67/ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. HOPKINS, of New York, (Brooklyn,) countyof Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

In type-writing machines it is customary to employ an ink-ribbonstretched between two spools, the rotary motion of which is reversedfrom time to time in order that the ribbon may be slowly wound firstupon one spool and then upon the other in order to carry its entirelength over the printing-point between the paper and the type. Theribbon is much Wider than the type, and therefore it is desirable toshift the spool endwise in order that the type may in the course of timeact on all portions of the ribbon in order to fully utilize the same.Heretofore the spools have been mounted so that they could be movedendwise by hand and in some cases combined with mechanism for constantlyand gradually moving them to and fro while the ribbon was being fedlongitudinally, so that the type would act successively in linesextending diagonally or transversely of the ribbon. My inventioncontemplates the action of the type in straight lines lengthwise of theribbon and the movement of the ribbon laterally afterit has been actedupon throughout its length, so that during its reverse movement it willbe acted upon in a second straight line parallel with the first, and soon repeatedly. To this end I combine with the spools and theirreversible feed mechanism devices by which the spools are moved axiallya slight distance each time that the feed devices are reversed to changethe direction 40 of travel of the ribbon.

My improvement, although applicable to type-writers in general, isdesigned more particularly for use on book type-writers, in which thetype-arms strike in a downward direction, and I have therefore shown itapplied to a commercial machine of the Elliott & Hatch type, essentiallysuch as represented in Letters Patent of the United States No.

Serial No. 22,196. (No model.)

615,017. In its general organization the machine may be of ordinaryconstruction.

Figure 1 is a perspective view representing in outline my mechanism.Fig. 2 is a perspective view of detached parts. Fig; 3 is a top planview showing in outline portions of the type-writing machine with myimprovements applied thereto. Fig. 4c is an outline elevation of thewriting-machine with my improvements incorporated therein. Fig. 5 is aside View of one of the spools and the adjacent adjusting-cam formingpart of my invention.

In the drawings, A represents the angular main frame, carrying a seriesof type-arms B, actuated by finger-keys and arranged to strike downwardat a central printing-point upon the ink-ribbon O, which is stretchedhorizontally beneath the frame between the two spools D and D, the paperto be printed upon lying horizontally beneath the ribbon on a platen orother support, as usual. The ribbon-spools are sustained each on a shaftE, mounted at their ends in arms on the frame. Each shaft is providedwith a longitudinal spline or feather e, compelling the rotation of thespool therewith and permittingit to slide endwise. Each spool-shaft isprovided at one end with a ratchet-wheel F, rotated intermittingly by apawl G on a vertically-vibrating lever H, the inner end of which isacted upon by a vertically-vibratingarm I, forming part of the feedmechanism of the usual typewriter, so that each time the feed mechanismis operated the lever will be raised and the ratchet-wheel and spoolmake a slight rotation. The two pawls G are arranged to feed the ribbonin opposite directions, and only one dog or pawl is in operation at atime. In order to permit them to be thrown into and out of action toeffect the reversal of the course of the ribbon, the pawl-carryinglev'ersH are pivoted to the ends of a supplemental bar or frame J, whichis extended across the frame of the writing-machine, provided withlongitudinal slots j, and secured by screws, so that it may be pushedendwise to the right or left in order to bring one or the other of thedogs G into operative relation to the adjacent wheel F. The retrogradingof the spool being turned is prevented by a weighted pawl K, alsopivoted to the supplemental sliding frame, one at each end thereon.

It will be observed that the foregoing mechanism serves to turn thespools and to feed the ribbon first in one direction and then in theother over the printing-point. So long as the spools have a rotarymotion only and no motion in the direction of their axes the type willact along a single narrow line on the ribbon parallel with its edges. Tochange this line of travel, as already referred to, I mount in the frameadjacent to each spool a transversely-sliding bar L, having two arms Zfitting against opposite ends of the spool, so that as the bar isshifted the arms will move the spool axially, or, in other words, in adirection transverse to the length of the ribbon.

In order to effect the simultaneous movement of the two spools, Iconnect the two shifting bars L to the lower ends of the arms M, fixedto opposite ends of a horizontal rockshaft m, mounted in themachine-frame.

In order to cause the axial movement of the spools, I connect to eitheror both of the arms M a spring N, extended to the frame and servingthrough the arms to urge both spools in one direction along theirshafts. To move them in the opposite direction, I mount on one of thespool-supporting arms of the main frame a cam O, encircling the end ofone of the shift-bars L and having a spirally-curved and stepped edge toact against the pin Z on said bar, so that as the cam is turned it willdraw the bar and the spool in one direction until the highest point ofthe cam-surface is reached, when the pin Z will be released and the barpermitted to snap back to its original position, the pin or stud Zfalling to the lowest part of the cam-surface and the spool assuming thefirst position. This cam is turned step by step by means ofratchet-teeth formed on its outer surface and acted upon by aspring-pawl P on the sliding or secondary frame J, as speciallyindicated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4:. Its retrograde motion is prevented byspring-pawl Q.

By reason of the foregoing arrangement i follows that when the frame Jis shifted to the left to change the course of the ribbon it will at thesame time by turning the cam 0 cause the movement of both ribbon-spoolsin an axial direction, so that during the operation of the machine thetype will act on the ribbon along a new path or line parallel with thefirst. By repetition of the action described the type are caused to acton the ribbon in a series of parallel longitudinal lines following eachother from one edge of the ribbon to the other, after which the ribbonassumes its first position and the type again begin their action thereonnear one edge.

It is to be observed that the shifting of the ribbon laterally and itsfeed longitudinally do not occur simultaneously in my machine;

ally while it is being moved longitudinally.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a type-writing machine, thecombination of an ink-ribbon, two winding-spools attached to oppositeends thereof, alternatelyacting mechanisms, serving respectively toshift the spools in an axial direction and to turn the spools, wherebythe ribbon is fed longitudinally in an unchanging path and then shiftedlaterally preparatory to its travel in a new path.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination of an ink-ribbon, ofmechanismactuated from the finger-keys for feeding the ribbon step bystep longitudinally, and means acting independently of the above-namedmechanism for shifting the same laterally at intervals, whereby thelongitudinal and lateral movements of the ribbon are effected whollyindependent of each other.

3. In a type-writer, an ink-ribbon, two spools between which the ribbonis wound to and fro, mechanism for turning the respective spoolsalternately and in opposite directions, shifting mechanism for throwingthe feed devices of the respective spools alternately into and out ofaction, and means for moving the spools endwise, actuated by saidshifting mechanism.

4:. In a type-writer, the combination of an ink-ribbon, the two spoolsand their ratchetwheels, the pawls and their operating devices, theshifting frame to which they are attached, means for feeding the spoolsendwise in unison, and means connected with the shifting frame foreffecting said movement of the spools in the act of reversing thedirection of the ribbon-feed.

5. In a type-writer, the spools, their feed mechanism, the sliding framefor reversing the action of said feed mechanism, a cam and connectionsfor shifting the spools endwise, and a device connected with the slidingframe for rotating the cam step by step in the act of reversing the feedmechanism.

6. In a type-writer, two ribbon-carrying spools, movable in an axialdirection, connections to insure equal movement of the two spools, aspring tending to move the spools in one direction and a stepped cam tomove them in the opposite direction.

IIO

7. In a type-Writer, two ribbon-carrying In testimony whereof I hereuntoset my spools movable in an axial direction connecthand, this 27 th dayof June, 1900, in the pres- [0 ing devices to secure their equalmovement, ence of two attesting Witnesses.

a spring connection tending to move them 5 axially in one direction, acam controlling EDWARD HOPKINS their to-and-fro motion, means forreversing Witnesses: the rotation of the spools and at the same JOHN F.GEORGE, time actuating the cam. I M. A. DRIFFILL.

